It is affected by many conditions that can cause hepatomegaly, including:. This condition is most often detected by a provider. You may not be aware of the liver or spleen swelling. Tests to determine the cause of hepatomegaly vary, depending on the suspected cause, but may include:. Martin P. Approach to the patient with liver disease. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; chap Plevris J, Parks R.
The gastrointestinal system. Macleod's Clinical Examination. A liver biopsy is a procedure to remove a small sample of liver tissue for laboratory testing. Liver biopsy is commonly performed by inserting a thin needle through your skin and into your liver. You're likely to start by seeing your primary care doctor. If your doctor suspects you have an enlarged liver, he or she might refer you to the appropriate specialist after testing to determine the cause. If you have a liver disease, you might be referred to a specialist in liver problems hepatologist.
When you make the appointment, ask if there's anything you need to do in advance, such as fasting before having a specific test. Make a list of:. Take a family member or friend along, if possible, to help you remember the information you're given. Unsupported Browser! This website will offer limited functionality in this browser. We only support the recent versions of major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.
Enlarged liver. Overview An enlarged liver is one that's bigger than normal. An enlarged liver can have many possible causes.
Symptoms An enlarged liver might not cause symptoms. When enlarged liver results from liver disease, it might be accompanied by: Abdominal pain Fatigue Nausea and vomiting Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes jaundice When to see a doctor Make an appointment with your doctor if you have symptoms that worry you.
Causes The liver is a large, football-shaped organ found in the upper right portion of your abdomen. Risk factors You're more likely to develop an enlarged liver if you have a liver disease. Factors that can increase your risk of liver problems include: Excessive alcohol use. Drinking large amounts of alcohol can be damaging to your liver. Herbal supplements. Certain supplements, including black cohosh, ma huang and valerian, can increase your risk of liver damage. If you are diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B virus, your healthcare provider may recommend antiviral treatment if an initial evaluation reveals that you have severe active disease.
Most patients with chronic hepatitis C will be considered for therapy. Antiviral agents for hepatitis B and C include interferon or other agents that act directly to stop the virus medications whose names end in -vir such as entecavir, ledipasvir, among others. Also called "fatty liver," steatosis occurs when liver cells accumulate fat in response to injury.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease NAFLD refers to an accumulation of fat in the liver not caused by alcohol, viral infection, medications, or genetic disease.
A related term is non-alcoholic steatohepatitis NASH , which refers to steatosis associated with inflammation. Just like patients with other types of liver disease, patients with NAFLD can progress to advanced liver disease and cirrhosis. Treatment often centers on lifestyle modification such as diet, exercise, and weight loss. Medications are reserved mainly for patients with more severe disease. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can cause a range of liver conditions, including alcoholic hepatitis, alcoholic fatty liver disease, or cirrhosis.
The workup may also include blood tests or imaging. It is critical to recognize the signs and symptoms of alcohol abuse early because patients often do not develop symptoms until they have life-threatening liver disease. Treatment for alcohol abuse may take many different forms, including counseling, residential treatment, or support groups.
Occasionally, medications can be used as an adjunct to other types of therapy. Both benign and malignant liver tumors may cause enlargement of the liver. The most common types of benign liver tumors include cysts, hemangiomas, adenomas, or focal nodular hyperplasia.
Occasionally, a biopsy may be required to make a final diagnosis. Usually, no treatment is necessary for benign liver tumors, unless they are causing severe symptoms such as abdominal pain or bleeding. Rarely, liver adenomas can degenerate into a cancerous tumor, and your healthcare provider may recommend periodic imaging to make sure no changes have occurred in your liver.
Malignant liver tumors can be divided into primary or secondary liver tumors. Primary liver tumors are tumors that arise directly from the liver tissue. The most common examples are hepatocellular carcinoma or cholangiocarcinoma. The treatment arsenal for primary liver tumors may include chemotherapy, radiation, surgery or other liver-directed procedures. Some patients with hepatocellular carcinoma may qualify for curative liver transplantation.
Your specific treatment plan will depend on your diagnosis and specific circumstances. A secondary liver tumor is a tumor from some other part of the body that has involved the liver. Tumors may grow directly into the liver known as direct invasion or may spread to the liver via the bloodstream known as metastasis.
Almost any tumor can spread to the liver, and treatment is variable. When your healthcare providers create a treatment plan for secondary liver tumors, they will consider your overall health, the behavior of your disease, other coexisting diseases, and your own treatment goals. This refers to a group of diseases where the liver stores too much carbohydrate, minerals, or other biological molecules.
Often, the cause is genetic and may be exacerbated by diet or other factors in your environment. If left untreated, these diseases can cause life-threatening liver failure. Treatment is variable and can include dietary changes or medications which capture the offending molecules. Use supplements with caution. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of herbal supplements before you take them.
Some alternative medicine treatments can harm your liver. Herbs and supplements to avoid include black cohosh, ma huang and other Chinese herbs, comfrey, germander, greater celandine, kava, pennyroyal, skullcap, and valerian. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version.
This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Enlarged liver Open pop-up dialog box Close. Enlarged liver An enlarged liver can have many possible causes.
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